Private: About
More than 1,500 people who believe the scientific method is the best way to approach investing. Ideas backed up with information. And improved by iteration. That’s Two Sigma.
We’re not your typical investment manager. We follow principles of technology and innovation as much as principles of investment management. Fields like machine learning and distributed computing guide us. Since 2001, we’ve searched for ways that these kinds of technologies can make us better at what we do. We never stop researching and developing.
In the process, we work to help real people. Through our investors, we support the retirements of millions around the world. And we help fund breakthrough research, education and a wide range of charities and foundations.
42+
Petabytes of data, and growing: To test and develop investment models, it helps to have a lot of data. We have a lot of data.*
10,000+
Data sources, both public and proprietary: We look beyond the obvious. So we can find connections that lead to the next great investment idea.*
335,000+
CPUs with 2,000+ terabytes of memory: This is what a tech-driven investment manager looks like.*
4,500+
Person-years of R&D, growing by 300+ person years annually: Our R&D base far exceeds any new startup and is growing faster than any other investment management firm we know.*
2/3
Research and development: Most finance companies keep technology in the back office. Not us. Research and development make us who we are.*
60%
Non-financial backgrounds: Most of us don’t have traditional finance backgrounds. This helps us see what others in the industry don’t.*
>95%
Voluntary employee retention since inception: We like it here. We’re a career destination for people with big ideas who want room to grow.*
15
Gold and Silver medalists at the International Math Olympiad: We like solving hard problems.*
80+
Home countries: Diversity of thought. Ideas. Languages. Our team brings all that from all over the world.*
$58b+
Assets under management: We have a range of investors from all over the world.*
Co-Chairmen
David Siegel and John Overdeck are recognized pioneers in the fields of technology and investment management. They have more than 40 years of experience in the development of computer-driven, model-based trading systems. Together, David and John run the company. They work together to drive the mission and strategy for Two Sigma, nurture talent and shape the company’s unique culture.
DAVID SIEGEL, CO-CHAIRMAN
David is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He co-founded Two Sigma, where he currently serves as co-chairman.
Inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey, David was drawn to computer science at a young age and developed a deep interest in programming. This interest sparked a life-long passion for building intelligent computational systems, reflecting the belief in technology’s potential to improve virtually every human endeavor.
After graduating from Princeton, David received a PhD in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he conducted research at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
In 2001, he co-founded Two Sigma on the belief that innovative technology and data science could help discover value in the world’s data. Today, Two Sigma, through its use of algorithms and with its unique culture, drives transformations in many industries including investment management and insurance.
David’s philanthropic efforts underscore his conviction that education, science, and technology are the keys to a better world. In keeping with this vision, he founded Siegel Family Endowment in 2011 to support organizations and leaders that will understand and shape the impact of technology on society. David devotes significant time and energy to actively engaging with this work. He is the Chairman of the Board of Overseers at Cornell Tech, a board member of Carnegie Hall, and of the Robin Hood Learning + Tech Fund. After co-founding the board of New York City FIRST, he furthered his commitment to the organization by joining the national FIRST board. David’s service also includes roles on the Global Advisory Board of Khan Academy, the Advisory Board for Stanford’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, and the Advisory Council for Princeton’s Center on Information Technology Policy.
In 2014, David co-founded the Scratch Foundation to support Scratch, a block-based programming language and online community for kids that helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.
As a member of the MIT Corporation, David has the pleasure of serving on the Visiting Committee for the Media Lab, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, as well as with the advisory group for the Task Force on the Work of the Future. He is Founding Chair of the advisory board for MIT Quest, an initiative to discover the foundations of human intelligence and drive the development of technological tools that can positively influence society. David also sits on the Board of Directors of the Hamilton Insurance Group.
In 2017, David was honored by the Academy of Achievement for being a pioneer in technology and investment management.
JOHN OVERDECK, CO-CHAIRMAN
John began his career at D.E. Shaw & Co, where he rose to Managing Director. While at D. E. Shaw, he directed the firm’s Japanese equity and equity-linked investments and supervised the firm’s London investment management affiliate. Following D.E. Shaw and before starting Two Sigma, John spent two years at Amazon.com, first serving as Vice President and technical assistant to Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. He went on to lead customer relationship management at Amazon.com, directing Amazon’s renowned personalization, community, and targeted marketing features and technology. He also led critical efforts to make Amazon’s customer technology more scalable.
A lifelong math enthusiast, John won a silver medal for the United States in the 27th International Mathematics Olympiad. He earned a B.S. in Mathematics (with distinction) and a M.S. in Statistics from Stanford University. John currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hamilton Insurance Group. In addition to his family’s charitable activities, John also serves on the boards of the Robin Hood Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Study and is the Chair of the National Museum of Mathematics.
In 2017, John was honored by the Academy of Achievement for being a pioneer in technology and investment management.
Founders
Two Sigma Investments was founded in 2001 by David Siegel, John Overdeck, and Mark Pickard on the belief that innovative technology and data science could help discover value in the world’s data. Today, Two Sigma, through its use of algorithms and with its unique culture, drives transformations in many industries including investment management and insurance.
